Law of Divine Compensation

Law of Divine compensation is described as the spiritual principle of reaping what you sow or divine recompense. The core principle is spiritual reciprocity: the basic idea is that actions, whether positive or negative have consequences that return to the doer, not merely as a direct transaction but part of a universal balance maintained by a higher power. Continue reading

Understanding the Observing of specific Nyasas

Nyasa means a ritual practice that involves placing Bija (seed) or shakti mantras often in conjunction with a specific deity or chakra. I am describing Shakti Nyasa and Bija Nyasa. Nyasa are advanced forms of Hindu worship. They are performed to energise the Sadhaka’s body with Shakti and Bija mantras. Continue reading

Why are fragrant unguents used as offering?

In the Hindu faith, unguents and oils were used as offerings. Their purpose was to please the deity and in the presence of the deity to undergo a sense of purification, while worshipping.

Why are these unguents important in Hindu rituals? Continue reading

Nine days of worship

Navaratri is celebrated to honour Durga’s victory over the defeat of Mahishasura, who was a threat to the universe. None of the Gods could overcome him. The Goddess, Durga was gifted strengths from all the Gods and she became omnipotent. Only the Cosmic mother could destroy him and she was Durga. In Navaratri, different forms of the Goddess are worshipped each day. Continue reading

The pursuit of happiness

The Gita offers a method of attaining happiness. It introduces the concept of the three gunas (qualities of nature): sattva (goodness), rajas (passion) and tamas (inertia). It suggests that happiness derived from tamas (ignorance) is fleeting and ultimately leads to suffering. Happiness derived from sattva (pure consciousness) is lasting and leads to true joy. Continue reading

Dispelling of fear

Dear ones, we are all afraid of fear. Its insidious presence is in everyone and it is very enthusiastic about ruling and controlling us. What can we do about it? Devi Mahatmyam (The glory of the Goddess) answers this question. Fear is addressed in Devi Mahatmyam. One must not be consumed by the ego and a false sense of fear. Continue reading

Penance

The Hindu path of penance is a way of self-improvement and spiritual growth involving self-discipline, atonement and a sincere effort to connect with the divine.

Several internal flames have to be lit for the sadhana of penance.

First flame to be kindled is for not being restless. Restless means distracted and constantly pursuing desires and trivialities in life. This flame then continues to burn and the impurities of this life vanish. Continue reading

Abhinavagupta’s commentary on the Bhagwad Gita

He who sees equally, whether in pleasure or pain, his own self in everything, because he can be compared with his own self, he is deemed the highest yogin Arjuna. – Chapter 6.33

The Yogin experiences the pleasures or suffering of all beings as his own.

Who is a Yogin?

A yogin is someone who has achieved a state of self-realization and union with the divine, often through dedicated practice and self-discipline. A yogin is characterized with equanimity, control over the senses and detachment from worldly desires, viewing everything dispassionately.

Aim Hrim Klim

Understanding the Divine Feminine

From woman man is born,
Within woman man is conceived,
To a woman he is engaged and married.
Woman becomes his friend,
Through woman future generations come, when his woman dies
He seeks another woman,
To a woman he is bound,
So why call her bad?
From her kings are born,
From woman, woman is born.
Without woman there would be no one at all. – Guru Nanak

We must honour the Divine Feminine, which is in all of us. Shakti symbolizes power—divine force that creates, sustains and evolves. Shakti is the essence of existence. Continue reading